Disposable mercury-free cell-on-a-chip devices with integrated microfabricated electrodes for the determination of trace nickel(II) by adsorptive stripping voltammetry

This work reports the fabrication of disposable three-electrode cells with integrated sputtered metal-film electrodes. The working electrode was a bismuth-film electrode (BiFE) while the reference and counter electrodes were made of Ag and Pt, respectively. The deposition of the metal layers was carried out by sputtering of the respective metals on a silicon substrate while the exact geometry of the electrodes was defined via a metal mask placed on the substrate during the deposition process. Initially, the electrodes were characterised by cyclic voltammetry. The utility of these devices was tested for the trace determination of Ni(II) by square wave adsorptive stripping voltammetry (SWAdSV) after complexation with dimethylglyoxime (DMG). The experimental variables (the presence of oxygen, the DMG concentration, the preconcentration potential, the accumulation time and the SW parameters), as well as potential interferences, were investigated. Using the selected conditions, the 3sigma limit of detection was 100 ng L(-1) for Ni(II) (for 90 s of preconcentration) and the relative standard deviation for Ni(II) was 2.3% at the 10 microg L(-1) level (n=8). Finally, the method was applied to the determination of Ni(II) in a certified river water sample.     

Mixed transition metal-lanthanide complexes at high oxidation states: heteronuclear CeIVMnIV clusters

The syntheses of the first mixed-metal CeIVMnIV complexes are reported. [CeMn2O3(O2CMe)(NO3)4(H2O)2(bpy)2](NO3) (1; bpy=2,2'-bipyridine) was obtained from the reaction of Mn(NO3)2.xH2O and bpy with (NH4)2Ce(NO3)6 in a 1:1:2 molar ratio in 25% aqueous acetic acid. The complexes [CeMn6O9(O2CR)9(X)(H2O)2]y+ (R=Me, X=NO3-, y=0 (2); R=Me, X=MeOH, y=+1 (3); R=Et, X=NO3-, y=0 (7)) were obtained from reactions involving a [Mn(O2CR)2].4H2O/CeIV ratio of approximately 1:1.5 in concentrated aqueous carboxylic acid. A related reaction in less-concentrated aqueous acetic acid and in the presence of L (where L=2-hydroxy-6-methylpyridine (mhpH), 2-pyrrolidinone (pyroH), or pyridine (py)) gave [Ce3Mn2O6(O2CMe)6(NO3)2(L)a(H2O)b] (L=mhpH, a=4, b=0 (4); L=pyroH, a=2, b=3 (5)) and {{(pyH)3[Ce3Mn2O6(O2CMe)7.5(NO3)3].(HO2CMe)0.5.(H2O)2}2(NO3)}n (6), respectively. Solid-state magnetic susceptibility (chiM) data for compounds 1, 4, and 5 were fit to the theoretical chiMT versus T expression for a MnIV2 complex derived using the isotropic Heisenberg spin Hamiltonian (H=-2J?1? 2) and the Van Vleck equation. The obtained fit parameters were (in the format J, g) 1, -45.7(3) cm(-1), 1.95(5); 4, -0.40(10) cm(-1), 2.0(1); and 5, -0.34(10) cm(-1), 2.0(1), where J is the exchange interaction constant between the two MnIV ions. The data for compound 3 were fit by a matrix diagonalization method that gave J1=-5.8 cm(-1), J2=-0.63 cm(-1), J3 approximately 0, and g=2.0(1), where J1 and J2 are the exchange interactions for the [MnIV2O2(Omicron2CMe)] and [MnIV2O(Omicron2CMe)2] units, respectively, and J3 for a uniform next-nearest-neighbor interaction. Theoretical estimates of the exchange constants in compounds 1 and 3 obtained with the ZILSH method were in excellent and good agreement, respectively, with the values obtained from fits of the magnetization data. The difference for 3 is assigned to the presence of the Ce4+ ion, and atomic bond indices obtained from the ZILSH calculations were used to rationalize the values of the various exchange constants based on metal-ligand bond strengths.     

A large [Mn10Na]4 loop of four linked Mn10 loops

A large [Mn10Na]4 loop-of-loops aggregate was prepared from the use of 1,3-propanediol (pdH2) in manganese carboxylate chemistry. It is constructed from four [Mn10(mu3-O)2(O2CMe)13(pd)6(py)2]- loops linked through Na+ ions and exhibits a saddlelike topology. Magnetic characterization showed that the Mn10 loop has an S approximately 4 ground-state spin and displays frequency-dependent in-phase and out-of-phase alternating current signals and also hysteresis loops that, however, are not typical of single-molecule magnets because of the existence of intermolecular interactions between the Mn10 units.     

Polyoxomolybdenum(V/VI)-sulfite compounds: synthesis, structural, and physical studies

Reaction of Na(2)Mo(VI)O(4) x 2H(2)O with (NH(4))(2)SO(3) in the mixed-solvent system H(2)O/CH(3)CN (pH = 5) resulted in the formation of the tetranuclear cluster (NH(4))(4)[Mo(4)(VI)SO(16)] x H(2)O (1), while the same reaction in acidic aqueous solution (pH = 5) yielded (NH(4))(4)[Mo(5)(VI)S(2)O(21)] x 3H(2)O (2). Compound {(H(2)bipy)(2)[Mo(5)(VI)S(2)O(21)] x H(2)O}(x) (3) was obtained from the reaction of aqueous acidic solution of Na(2)Mo(VI)O(4) x 2H(2)O with (NH(4))(2)SO(3) (pH = 2.5) and 4,4'-bipyridine (4,4'-bipy). The mixed metal/sulfite species (NH(4))(7)[Co(III)(Mo(2)(V)O(4))(NH(3))(SO(3))(6)] x 4H(2)O (4) was synthesized by reacting Na(2)Mo(VI)O(4) x 2H(2)O with CoCl(2) x 6H(2)O and (NH(4))(2)SO(3) with precise control of pH (5.3) through a redox reaction. The X-ray crystal structures of compounds 1, 2, and 4 were determined. The structure of compound 1 consists of a ring of four alternately face- and edge-sharing Mo(VI)O(6) octahedra capped by the trigonal pyramidal sulfite anion, while at the base of the Mo(4) ring is an oxo group which is asymmetrically shared by all four molybdenum atoms. Compound 3 is based on the Strandberg-type heteropolyion [Mo(5)(VI)S(2)O(21)](4-), and these coordinatively saturated clusters are joined by diprotonated 4,4'-H(2)bipy(2+) through strong hydrogen bonds. Compound 3 crystallizes in the chiral space group C2. The structure of compound 4 consists of a novel trinuclear [Co(III)Mo(2)(V)SO(3)(2-)] cluster. The chiral compound 3 exhibits nonlinear optical (NLO) and photoluminescence properties. The assignment of the sulfite bands in the IR spectrum of 4 has been carried out by density functional calculations. The cobalt in 4 is a d(6) octahedral low-spin metal atom as it was evidenced by magnetic susceptibility measurements, cw EPR, BVS, and DFT calculations. The IR and solid-state UV-vis spectra as well as the thermogravimetric analyses of compounds 1-4 are also reported.     

High-nuclearity Ce/Mn and Th/Mn cluster chemistry: preparation of complexes with [Ce4Mn10O10(OMe)6]18+ and [Th6Mn10O22(OH)2]18+ cores

The syntheses, structures, and magnetic properties are reported of the mixed-metal complexes [Ce4Mn10O10(OMe)6(O2CPh)16(NO3)2(MeOH)2(H2O)2] (1) and [Th6Mn10O22(OH)2(O2CPh)16-(NO3)2(H2O)8] (2), which were both prepared by the reaction of (NBun4)[Mn4O2(O2CPh)9(H2O)] (3) with a source of the heterometal in MeCN/MeOH. Complexes 1 and 2 crystallize in the monoclinic space group C2/c and the triclinic space group P, respectively. Complex 1 consists of 10 MnIII, 2 CeIII, and 2 CeIV atoms and possesses a very unusual tubular [Ce4Mn10O10(OMe)6]18+ core. Complex 2 consists of 10 MnIV and 6 ThIV atoms and possesses a [Th6Mn10O22(OH)2]18+ core with the metal atoms arranged in layers with a 2:3:6:3:2 pattern. Peripheral ligation around the cores is provided by 16 bridging benzoates, 2 chelating nitrates, and either (i) 2 each of terminal H2O and MeOH groups in 1 or (ii) 8 terminal H2O groups in 2. Complex 1 is the largest mixed-metal Ce/Mn cluster and the first 3d/4f cluster with mixed-valency in its lanthanide component, while complex 2 is the first Th/Mn cluster and the largest mixed transition metal/actinide cluster to date. Solid-state dc and ac magnetic susceptibility measurements on 1 and 2 establish that they possess S = 4 and 3 ground states, respectively. Ac susceptibility studies on 1 revealed nonzero frequency-dependent out-of-phase (chiM' ') signals at temperatures below 3 K; complex 2 displays no chiM' ' signals. However, single-crystal magnetization vs dc field scans at variable temperatures and variable sweep-rates down to 0.04 K on 1 revealed no noticeable hysteresis loops, except very minor ones at 0.04 K assignable to weak intermolecular interactions propagated by hydrogen bonds involving CeIII-bound ligands. Complex 1 is thus concluded not to be a single-molecule magnet (SMM), and the combined results thus represent a caveat against taking such ac signals as sufficient proof of a SMM.     

Catalysis of aryl ester hydrolysis in the presence of metallomicelles containing a copper(II) diethylenetriamine derivative

The novel metallosurfactant Cu(II)-1-tetradecyldiethylenetriamine (Cu(II)TDET) was prepared, and the hydrolyses of 2-acetoxy-5-nitrobenzoic acid (1), 4-acetoxy-3-nitrobenzoic acid (2), 4-nitrophenyl acetate (3), and 2-nitrophenyl acetate (4) in the presence of micellar Cu(II)TDET were examined. The rate of ester hydrolysis for the series followed the order 1 approximately 2>3>4. The larger observed rate (kpsi) for 1 and 2 was attributed to (i) electrostatic interaction between the carboxylate anion and the cationic metallomicelle surface and (ii) the formation of a ternary complex metal:surfactant ligand:substrate (MLnS). The position of the carboxylate anion in the substrate did not significantly affect catalysis. Similar rates were observed when the carboxylate anion was ortho to the acyl ester 1 or para to the reaction center 2. The absence of a significant difference may be associated with the ternary complex coordination geometry, which unfavorably aligned the ligated substrate and the metal-bound hydroxyl. Mixed micellar solutions containing Cu(II)TDET and MTAB or Triton X-100 were examined. Added cosurfactants have a pronounced effect on the catalytic activity of Cu(II)TDET. At a low concentration of Cu(II)TDET the addition of MTAB or Triton X-100 increased the pseudo-first-order rate constant (kpsi) for the hydrolysis of 1 and 3 relative to the rate in pure Cu(II)TDET. The addition of a cosurfactant increased the total micellar volume (VM), promoting substrate incorporation within the pseudophase. At higher metallosurfactant concentration, the rate enhancement was smaller due to the dilution of the substrate within the co-micellar pseudophase.     

The supramolecular chemistry of metal complexes with heavily substituted imidazoles as ligands: Cobalt(II) and zinc(II) complexes of 1-methyl-4,5-diphenylimidazole

An investigation of the M^II/X⁻/L [M^II = Co, Ni, Cu, Zn; X⁻ = Cl⁻, Br⁻, I⁻, NCS⁻, NO₃⁻, N₃⁻, CH₃COO⁻; L = 1-methyl-4,5-diphenylimidazole] general reaction system towards the detailed study of the intermolecular interactions utilized for controlling the supramolecular organization and the structural consequences on the structures produced has been initiated. Three representative complexes with the formulae [Co(NO₃)₂(L)₂] (1), [Zn(NO₃)₂(L)₂] (2) and [Co(NCS)₂(L)₂]·EtOH (3·EtOH) have been synthesized and characterized by spectroscopic methods and single-crystal X-ray analysis. Compounds 1 and 2 are isomorphous (tetragonal, I4₁cd) with their metal ions in a severely distorted octahedral Co/ZnN₂O₄ environment, while 3·EtOH crystallizes in P2₁/c with a tetrahedral CoN₄ coordination. The structural analysis of 1, 2 and 3·EtOH reveals a common mode of packing among neighbouring ligands (expressed through intramolecular π–π interactions between the 4,5-diphenylimidazole moieties), enhancing thus the rigidity and stability of the complexes. The bent coordination of the two isothiocyanates in 3 [Co–NCS angles of 173.8(2) and 160.8(2)°] seems to be caused by intermolecular hydrogen bonding and crystal packing effects.     

Compressible simulations of bubble dynamics with central-upwind schemes

This paper discusses the implementation of an explicit density-based solver, that utilises the central-upwind schemes for the simulation of cavitating bubble dynamic flows. It is highlighted that, in conjunction with the Monotonic Upstream-Centered Scheme for Conservation Laws (MUSCL) scheme they are of second order in spatial accuracy; essentially they are high-order extensions of the Lax–Friedrichs method and are linked to the Harten Lax and van Leer (HLL) solver family. Basic comparison with the predicted wave pattern of the central-upwind schemes is performed with the exact solution of the Riemann problem, for an equation of state used in cavitating flows, showing excellent agreement. Next, the solver is used to predict a fundamental bubble dynamics case, the Rayleigh collapse, in which results are in accordance to theory. Then several different bubble configurations were tested. The methodology is able to handle the large pressure and density ratios appearing in cavitating flows, giving similar predictions in the evolution of the bubble shape, as the reference.     

Pentanuclear complexes with unusual structural topologies from the initial use of two aliphatic amino-alcohol ligands in Fe chemistry

Five novel pentanuclear Fe(3+) clusters with the aliphatic amino-alcohol ligands 3-amino-1-propanol (Hap) and 2-(hydroxymethyl)piperidine (Hhmpip) [Fe(5)(μ(3)-Ο)(2)(L)(4)(O(2)CR)(7)] [L = ap(-), R = Ph (1); L = ap(-), R = C(CH(3))(3) (2); L = hmpip(-), R = Ph (3); L = hmpip(-), R = C(CH(3))(3) (4)] and [Fe(5)(μ(4)-Ο)(μ(3)-Ο)(O(2)CC(CH(3))(3))(8)(ap)(2)Cl(HO(2)CC(CH(3))(3))] (5) are reported. Compounds 1-4 were prepared from reactions of preformed trinuclear Fe(3+) clusters with the ligands in a molar ratio 1 : 5 in MeCN (1, 3, 4) or DMF (2), whereas compound 5 was prepared from the reaction of FeCl(3) with Hap in the presence of HO(2)CC(CH(3))(3) in a molar ratio 1 : 3 : 2 in MeCN. To the best of our knowledge, 1-5 are the first examples of Fe(3+) complexes with the ligands Hap and Hhmpip. The structures of 1-4 are composed of a quasi-planar [Fe(5)(μ(3)-O)(2)](11+) core which consists of two vertex-sharing [Fe(3)(μ(3)-O)](7+) triangles. The structure of 5 is based on the [Fe(5)(μ(4)-O)(μ(3)-O)](11+) core, in which the five Fe(3+) ions adopt a monocapped trigonal pyramidal topology. Variable-temperature magnetic susceptibility measurements on powdered microcrystalline samples of 1 and 5 revealed the existence of antiferromagnetic interactions which led to an S = 5/2 ground state. M?ssbauer spectroscopy studies on powdered microcrystalline samples of 1 and 5 confirmed that all iron ions of both complexes are in the Fe(3+) (S = 5/2) state. The variation of the ligand environment in the various iron sites was reflected in their different quadruple splitting parameters. At T < 50 K the M?ssbauer spectra indicated the onset of spin relaxation effects in the time scale of the technique (10(-7)-10(-8) s).